New Orleans Pelicans: The Top 10 Head Coach Candidates

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(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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New Orleans Pelicans
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New Orleans Pelicans Candidate #10- Anthony Grant, Dayton

Right now it seems unlikely that an NCAA head coach is going to be the person winning the New Orleans Pelicans sweepstakes. A coach making the jump from the NCAA to the NBA rarely works out, and I don’t think it’s team vice president David Griffin’s style.

If any coach from the NCAA was to get the job, it would be Dayton’s, Anthony Grant. Grant has the distinction of not only being a successful college coach but also a coach with experience as an NBA assistant.

If the Pelicans hire Grant, they would be getting an excellent defensive mind who recently helped head coach Billy Donovan rebuild his defensive system in Oklahoma City. For a team with the 27th ranked scoring defense, Grant’s calling card could be compelling.

Read More About Anthony Grant’s Pelicans Potential Here

New Orleans Pelicans
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New Orleans Pelicans Candidate #9- Will Hardy, San Antonio Spurs (Assistant)

The only thing holding Will Hardy back from being higher on this list is his age. At just 32 years old it seems unlikely that the New Orleans Pelicans would take a risk on such a young inexperienced coach.

That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot to like about Will Hardy’s candidacy. Hardy in just a few years worked his way up from intern to a lead assistant coach in the San Antonio Spurs organization. With a focus on relationship building, player development, and system basketball Hardy checks off a lot of boxes despite his age.

Read More About Will Hardy’s Pelicans Potential Here.